Monday, January 7, 2013
As soon as the medication is taking effect and you're unconscious, the anesthesiologist or CRNA will put in the breathing tube. After the breathing tube is secure, you are going to be positioned and prepped for surgery. If you are male, your abdomen might be shaved. You
might have a catheter placed in your bladder to empty urine. The circulating nurse will then "prep" your belly utilizing betadine or "CHG" - a germ-killing antimicrobial skin cleaning solution.
Once your abdomen is prepped with the skin cleanser, the surgical team will begin to place sterile drapes over you. You will be covered completely with these sterile drapes except for the area in which they will be making the incisions. After all the drapes are on, and all the equipment the surgeon will be using is hooked up and ready to go, the lap band procedure will begin.
The surgeon will begin by making several small incisions in your abdomen. These incisions will be used to put the laparoscope and laparoscopic tools through. Carbon dioxide gas is then pumped in to inflate your abdomen; this is done to make it much easier for the surgeon to see. The surgeon will use the laparoscope to see inside your abdomen without having to make a large incision and open your belly. The surgeon will be looking at a monitor which the video from the laparoscope will be sent to throughout the lap band procedure.
A unique adjustable round band will be inserted through one of the small incision sites, and very carefully placed surrounding the upper part of your stomach utilizing the laparoscopic instruments. After the band is put within the appropriate position, it will be fastened in place. An access port that's attached to the band with specific tubing will be placed into the abdominal wall. This access port is placed to where it will be later used to modify the band. Through a specific needle and syringe to increase or take away saline, the band will become tight or loose. Right after the band and port are properly secured, the incisions are closed up with either staples or suture.
As soon as the lap band procedure is over the anesthesiologist or CRNA will begin to wake you up. You may notice them requesting you to open up your mouth or perhaps to squeeze their hand. They execute this to make sure you are awake enough to breath independently before they remove the breathing tube. They should then take the breathing tube out. You are moved onto a stretcher and they will wheel you into the recovery area or PACU (post anesthesia care unit).
